Deeds' son, Austin "Gus" Deeds, was taken to a local hospital the day before the incident under an emergency custody order for an evaluation by mental health professionals, a police source confirmed.

However, Deeds' son was released because no psychiatric bed could be found for him across a wide area of western Virginia, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

The following morning, Deeds was stabbed at his home during a fight with his 24-year-old son, who then shot himself with a rifle, according to autopsy results state police disclosed Wednesday.

Deeds, 55, is well known in Virginia political circles. A Democrat, he ran unsuccesfully for attorney general in 2005 and for governor in 2009, both times against Republican Bob McDonnell, who is now Virginia's governor.

soundoff(20 Responses)

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA -aka- Take Back The House -aka- No Redemption Votes

Hope you have a speedy recovery Sen. Deeds.

November 22, 2013 09:25 am at 9:25 am |

Kude

Requardless of political parties, I think everyone should be wishing Senator Deeds the best of luck in his upcoming recovery! These next few months will most definitely be very tough for him. You're in our prayers!

November 22, 2013 09:31 am at 9:31 am |

Susan

Boy, this story really got swept under the carpet. If this had been a random citizen, the conversation dominating the headlines would be gun control and mental health issues.

November 22, 2013 09:37 am at 9:37 am |

Dominican mama 4 Obama

I feel so very, very bad for this man.
What a tragedy right before the holidays. Not that any other time would've been opportune.

November 22, 2013 09:59 am at 9:59 am |

TheSadTruth

"Austin "Gus" Deeds, was taken to a local hospital the day before the incident under an emergency custody order for an evaluation by mental health professionals, a police source confirmed. However, Deeds' son was released because no psychiatric bed could be found for him"

Mental health care has long been neglected in this country. How can we be called "first world" and let so many go without while catering to the rich at the expense of so many?

November 22, 2013 10:11 am at 10:11 am |

Steve

We know he has problems and needs professional help but, gosh darnit, there are no beds anywhere in West Virginia so we'll just kick him loose. What? You say he went on to stab his father 10 times and then killed himself? Bummer. Blame it on the system.

November 22, 2013 10:31 am at 10:31 am |

Mary

People who posted that the Senator shot his son need to read today's article.

November 22, 2013 10:32 am at 10:32 am |

tony

Was his son's release due to that "Reagan-Care" decision to dump the mentally ill onto the streets, in the 80's

A lot is missing from this ongoing story, for sure. I don't appreciate how the hospital is being blamed for not having beds. I'm sure they've got the most liberal criteria for committing someone who's mentally ill that they can afford...both in number of beds and number of wrongful committal lawsuits. Meanwhile, the first round of questions I would expect the Senator to answer would be centered on trying to find out if the crisis was avoidable. Must be tough being the child of a politician...just think of the political and media interest in having a son committed for in-patient psychiatric care. They undoubtedly waited until it was too late.

November 22, 2013 11:00 am at 11:00 am |

Lilly

This is the result of the Mental Health Care system of America. Ever since the U.S.'s mental health care system was decentralized, we have lost the ability to "commit" family members for long-term or for life. The only way you can commit a family member is by putting them in a private home for mentally disabled people that costs ~$12,000 per month. This is why Adam Lanza and many other mentally ill people were loose in society and able to kill children and people. We need institutions for these people please, because someone cannot be with these people 24/7. The family has to work to support these people!

November 22, 2013 11:16 am at 11:16 am |

rebecca

If he had shot his dad it would have made bigger headlines but this just goes to prove what a lot of people have been saying from the beginning that we have a lot of gun control laws right now we need to start working on metal healthcare because there are a lot of ways to kill guns are just one. No child in the united states should have to die because we cant find a bed at a mental health facility.

November 22, 2013 11:17 am at 11:17 am |

michelle

Could this have been avoided? Yes/No, our country is lacking money for mental health agenceis and parents often times have no where to go for help. The warning signs where there ,this young man was experiencing significant changes in his behavior and many saw the changes. We must remember that many times when a young person commits this crime it is not them, meaning, the deep darkest hole is so great with pain they don't realize what they are doing. Bless the family in their healing and cherish the memories of their son as they knew him.

November 22, 2013 11:20 am at 11:20 am |

Jerry Casaday

I agree with fsjunkie; we're not getting the whole story. There's a sense of total disconnect between what we're being fed and the facts of this case. Initially, I read that the Senator was stabbed 24 times and was in critical condition. And now he's released what-3 days later? It's difficult for me to believe anything I read about this, because it's plain that someone is shaping the story and feeding it to us as they damn well please.

November 22, 2013 11:22 am at 11:22 am |

Mark0

The hospital should have asked the question. "are there any weapons available that can be obtained by this individual?"
If the answer was yes, accomodations should have been made somewhere. Detention centers available?
Just saying!

November 22, 2013 11:25 am at 11:25 am |

Sniffit

"No child in the united states should have to die because we cant find a bed at a mental health facility."

But hey, with 17 million children going hungry in this country, we sure do need to make sure SNAP gets defunded, right?

November 22, 2013 11:26 am at 11:26 am |

DickPerry

More proof that knifes are safer then guns. If the son had used a gun against him he would certainly be dead.

November 22, 2013 11:26 am at 11:26 am |

truth

sadly, he will have to live the rest of his life knowing he killed his son.

November 22, 2013 11:36 am at 11:36 am |

regrettable

We have got to stop cutting mental health care. This is something that taxes can pay for. We are demonstrably better off when our citizens get the care they need.

November 22, 2013 11:36 am at 11:36 am |

John

I feel horrible for this family. Mental health issues are not dealt with properly in this country. Too many ignorant people with a "just snap out of it" attitude.